MORE then 1,600 pupils have been given temporary suspensions from Wirral schools, new figures revealed.

More than 240 were for assault against a fellow pupil and 20 for racist abuse.

The data covering 2013/14 shows fourteen pupils were given fixed-term exclusions for sexual misconduct, while 28 faced a similar punishment for drink and drug abuse.

By far the biggest cause was "persistent disruptive behaviour" with 430 in that category.

Most fixed-term suspensions averaged about two days - but 30 students were permanently excluded.

Wirral secondary schools sent home 1,380 students; 220 were primary pupils and around 100 from special needs education.

Across the country, 50 pupils a day are suspended from school for assaulting an adult.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the figures reflected new powers for teachers that give them the "confidence" to exclude pupils.

Mr Gibb said: "Today's figures show a slight increase in the number of fixed period and permanent exclusions, although overall they are lower than in 2010.

"The new freedoms and greater clarity over exclusions given to head teachers is having a positive impact on behaviour."

Pupils aged five to 11 were suspended 11,420 times for physical assault against an adult in state-funded primary schools in 2013/14 - up 25% from the previous year.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "An increase in the number of fixed-period exclusions in primary schools, with exclusion rates at their highest since 2007-08 shows the day-to-day challenges school leaders face.

"It's a challenging time for families who use and need public services facing cuts. This sometimes manifests as behaviour problems at younger ages than we might expect.

"Heads have a duty to protect the education of all children in their school and exclusions are a necessary tool in that duty."